It pays to play the Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium

View full sizeAlabama is paying three nonconference opponents a combined $2.2 million this season to visit Bryant-Denny Stadium. That's a 46 percent increase over the $1.5 it paid three nonconference visitors last season. (The Huntsville Times/Bob Gathany)

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Alabama is paying three visiting teams a combined $2.2 million this season for nonconference games, an increase of 47 percent over the $1.5 million that it spent last season.

Kent State will receive $1.2 million for playing Saturday in Alabama's season opener at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Last season, San Jose State received $900,000 to be the Crimson Tide's opening opponent.

Alabama also is paying North Texas $600,000 for a Sept. 17 game and Georgia Southern $400,000 for a Nov. 19 game, according to contracts obtained through a public records request.

Last season, Alabama paid Penn State $200,000 and Georgia State $400,000.

Alabama received $200,000 last season for playing a game at Duke. It will receive $200,000 for playing next week at Penn State.

Alabama originally was scheduled to play Louisiana Monroe on Sept. 10 as part of a Sept. 7, 2004 contract that called for 2006, 2007 and 2011 games at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama paid ULM $600,000 for each of the first two games and was due to pay $550,000 for this year's game.

Last year, Louisiana Monroe paid $500,000 to back out of the deal and then agreed to play Saturday at Florida State for $1.3 million. The school also will get $1.05 million for playing Sept. 24 at Iowa.

Kent State originally was scheduled to play Saturday at Purdue. To cancel that game, it paid Purdue $425,000 out of the $1.2 million it is getting from Alabama to cancel and thus will net $775,000.